Most used word on this year’s Participant
Polls…Awesome!!
On August 1, 2008, the National Teen Leadership Program
celebrated seventeen years of leadership excellence. After
last year’s sweet 16th anniversary, NTLP revamped to make
this year the start of a new legacy for more leadership conferences
to come!
2008 hosted 242 excited participants from all over the
country, including teens from New Jersey, New York, Virginia,
Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada –
with the rest being from Northern and Southern California.
Many were first time attendees and had no idea what to expect for
the weekend or from the dozens of staff in blue NTLP polo shirts
with huge smiles on their faces. 48 returning alumni (one returning
for their 5th time) knew exactly what was in store and
were excited to be back.
Our 38 alumni staff were pumped and ready to empower,
motivate, and inspire these young individuals. As diverse as the
attendees, staff came from all over California, including two from
out of state (Colorado and Illinois). This amazing group
included 8 rookies (first time staffers), plus a host of Bachelors,
Masters, and PhD degrees, working individuals, and young
parents. Every staff was once an NTLP participant and they
were excited share and teach what they had experienced through NTLP
with today’s teens.
This year’s theme was “It’s not just a weekend…it’s your
legacy!” Workshops included “Awareness and Diversity”, that had
participants engage in fun and serious interactive exercises and
visual displays focusing on the broader picture of how humankind is
and could be. In “Get It All Done”, participants were taught
creative methods for prioritizing, organizing and planning.
The activity “How are you Wired?”, was an interactive approach
to helping the participants understand their own behaviors, skills,
needs, and motivations and those of people they interact with that
will help them get along with everyone a little better.
Gender workshops were introduced for the first time and
taught by Cara Filler, who hosted “America’s Next Top Role Model”
for our young ladies. Grouped into teams, the ladies went
through extensive training with experts who taught them the
characteristics of Role models, how to make a bigger difference, and
how to walk to Role Model talk. The workshop ended with a
Runway competition showcasing the amazing designs of their vision of
a NTLP role model. The gentlemen had their own workshop called
“Building Men for the Future”, presented by Greg Roeszler. In
this workshop, these young men were given a playbook for success on
how to be “team players” who are prepared to lead at home, at
school, and in their community.
Three truly outstanding speakers inspired and motivated
our attendees. The weekend started out with unique, funny, and
passionate Cara Filler who spoke about telling the difference
between positive and negative risk and how to handle peer pressure
through her story and message “Your Life…Your Choice!” Our
next speaker was the spirited, poetic, and candid Calvin Terrell who
spoke about diversity and disarming the powers of intolerance and
injustice. Our final speaker to bring NTLP’s 17th
camp to a close was none other than the motivating and entertaining
Joshua Sundquist who shared his story about surviving bone cancer,
continuing to live his life to the fullest and inspiring our
participants to do the same.
NTLP is never all work and no play. Our resident
Hypnotist, Paul Parson, provided his hilarious and entertaining
hypnotist show for the 13th straight year. The California
National Guard hosted a low-ROPES teambuilding activity and
participants boogied the night away while chowin’ down on pizza at
the DJ Dance/Pizza Party.
We’ve learned new lessons, made new friends, and created
lasting memories all in one weekend. Most of us find it hard
leaving camp and saying goodbye each summer. But this year’s
theme was all about creating a legacy. So although we said
goodbye to NTLP 2008, it is only the beginning of the journey we all
will have back home, in our schools, and in our communities.
Remember to apply what you’ve learned from the speakers, workshops,
and activities to help enrich your life and the life of others as
well.
“It’s not just a weekend…it’s your legacy!”
We look forward to seeing you again at NTLP 2009 when NTLP
turns 18!
NTLP
comes of age in 2009! Early Bird Special is on
NOW!
Join us for our 18th Annual National Teen Leadership Program,
July 31 – August 2, 2009 at CSU Sacramento. Our 2009 rate will be
$399, but by signing up early your cost is just $325, a $74 savings!
To take advantage of this discount, registration must be paid IN
FULL no later than November 30, 2008.
Early registration fees are fully refundable until March 27,
2009. Credit card payments have a $10 cancellation fee at any
time.You know you want to come back to NTLP in 2009! Plan
ahead, save money - Register
Now!
See
what the participants said!
NTLP was one of the greatest experiences I've ever
had.
It was an exciting experience that resulted in a lot of new
beliefs.
Probably the highest energy camp, weekend or experience
that I've ever been to. NTLP has a great atmosphere and really
motivated me.
It was a life-changing experience. I had the time of my
life.
I am now a leader and a warrior.
Very fun, in a safe controlled environment. It helped me to
become a much better leader and step outside my comfort
zone.
My NTLP experience was amazing. It taught me how to step
out of my comfort zone and how to really except myself and realize
I can be a leader.
This is my 3rd year at NTLP and each year I go back to the
real world ready to face its challenges.
Changed my life! Unforgettable program.
I made a lot of friends and gained a lot of
self-confidence.
I have many new ideas about how I think of others and how I
lead my own life.
Every year NTLP changes my life. I will never forget this
wonderful program.
It was the best experience I've ever had.
When I first got here I wasn't expecting to learn anything
or try to change. But after the first day I feel like I have a
completely different perspective on life.
Absolutely amazing and very inspirational.
My experience at NTLP was amazing. It exceeded my
expectations by a mile. Because of the great staff, inspiring
speakers, helpful workshops and the fun I had in general, I know I
will return.
The staff is very enthusiastic which makes you want to be
more involved and makes the NTLP experience that much
better.
I learned so much that I would not have been able to learn
anywhere else, plus I had so much fun.
I love coming to NTLP. It's like no other experience. I
look forward to returning to staff.
They (Staff) were funny and understanding. The also made us
feel special and part of the NTLP family.
I came here unsure and somewhat quiet, but now I made lots
of new friends and became a lot more outgoing.
I wasn't sure what to expect my first year. But what I
experienced will be something I will never forget!
I learned a lot of new things, met amazing people and it
opened my mind to new and intense ideas.
My experience was fun and exciting. I was able to take home
more leadership skills and have my eyes opened up to the real
world around me.
They (staff) are all so friendly and really want to help us
to have a wonderful weekend and get the most out of the
experience. They really care about your thoughts and
feelings.
NTLP helped me learn a lot not only about being a leader
but also as part of a team and as a follower. Because
leaders should know and think like a follower in order to lead
properly.
I absolutely enjoyed this camp and learned so many things.
It's not about how people look or dress, it's about how people
will lead the team/club and others. That's what I learned the
most.
My experience being at NTLP was totally great. I think I
would love to staff someday in the future. I learned so much and
I'm grateful that NTLP is here.
It was new and a life changing experience I think, for
everyone.
A real dazzling experience, NTLP not only teaches you
leadership skills but opens your eyes to the reality of the world
around you.
Inspired me to be more loving.
NTLP was the best experience I've had all summer. A
absolutely loved the camp. I loved the people, staff,
workshops…the whole atmosphere.
It was an awesome way to show me more things about myself
that I didn't know. It was amazing because I met new people, made
new friends and had fun. Staff were willing to help everyone and
they were all fun to be around. They were also
admirable.
I had a lot of fun and loved staying on a college campus. I
learned a lot about leadership.
NTLP keeps changing my outlook on life. I want to try to
help people more because of it.
I am a leader who now has the tools to lead like never
before.
I met people from all over the country and was inspired to
be the best leader I can be.
We had the most real and inspirational leaders. They
treated us like the adults we think we are and respected our
words.
It was a fun-filled experience that made me think of how I
want to better my life to help others and myself be
happy.
I met new people and had a lot of fun. I also learned many
of the problems with society and how to be a student leader and
change them.
It was overall a jam-packed program of fun on a weekend.
It's not just a weekend though...it's my legacy.
Helping
NTLP is so easy with eScrip!
This is one of NTLP’s best fundraisers and the one that is
the easiest for you to participate! If you shop at Safeway, Von's,
Pavillions, EW Value, Albertson’s, Ralphs, Cala Bell, or
Raley’s/Belair/NOB HILL FOODS, NTLP receives a percentage of EVERY
grocery sale each time you use your Grocery Loyality
card!
It does not cost the person helping us even one single dime
and they don't have to prepay for scrip or remember to use a special
card. Just scanning their grocery loyalty card helps us every time
they buy groceries!
